Recommendations & Conclusions
13 items
1
Conclusion
Sixth Report - Police Conduct and Compl…
Accepted
It is an inevitable part of any complaints system that those whose complaints are not upheld will be discontented. There is none the less a perception that complaints against police officers are unlikely to succeed and that investigations are over- complex, take too long and frequently result in limited action …
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It is an inevitable part of any complaints system that those whose complaints are not upheld will be discontented. There is none the less a perception that complaints against police officers are unlikely to succeed and that investigations are over- complex, take too long and frequently result in limited action against even officers found to have committed misconduct.
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Government response AI summary
The government agreed that the existing governance structure of the IOPC, including the combination of Director General and Chair roles, will be considered as part of the Home Secretary's periodic review of the IOPC, which is expected to start in early 2022/23.
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Home Office
7
Recommendation
Sixth Report - Police Conduct and Compl…
Accepted
We urge the Government to consider police complaints as part of the review of the PCC model currently under way and to make an early assessment of PCC involvement in the police complaints system.
Government response AI summary
The government's response focused entirely on the complaints and discipline system reforms it implemented in February 2020, including new statutory duties and IOPC powers. It did not address the recommendation to consider police complaints as part of the ongoing review of the PCC model or …
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Home Office
8
Conclusion
Sixth Report - Police Conduct and Compl…
Accepted
It may be too soon to understand whether PCC involvement in the police complaints system is realising the benefits the Government hoped for, but we are concerned that the Government is not doing enough to monitor implementation of the new PCC complaint models or to encourage their uptake.
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It may be too soon to understand whether PCC involvement in the police complaints system is realising the benefits the Government hoped for, but we are concerned that the Government is not doing enough to monitor implementation of the new PCC complaint models or to encourage their uptake.
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Government response AI summary
The government agreed further work is needed on cultural change and committed to several actions: establishing the independent Angiolini Inquiry, tasking the police inspectorate to examine conduct and culture, and releasing new experimental police misconduct statistics in May. It also highlighted the College of Policing's …
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Home Office
9
Conclusion
Sixth Report - Police Conduct and Compl…
Accepted
We note enhanced opportunities for PCCs to play a greater role in the local complaints process following reforms introduced in 2020. The three models present a unique opportunity for PCCs, as part of their complaint-handling responsibilities, to support proactively and systemically more effective complaints systems within their forces, although nothing …
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We note enhanced opportunities for PCCs to play a greater role in the local complaints process following reforms introduced in 2020. The three models present a unique opportunity for PCCs, as part of their complaint-handling responsibilities, to support proactively and systemically more effective complaints systems within their forces, although nothing in what they do should delay complaint-handling processes any further. Statutory guidance sets out that PCCs and their equivalents hold their chief constable accountable for the performance of the local complaints and disciplinary processes by scrutinising local complaints data for example to identify themes and recurring issues—and how quickly forces resolve those issues— in complaints.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledged the need for further work on timeliness and confirmed the Home Office is due to publish experimental police misconduct statistics in May, which will include initial analysis of end-to-end investigation timeliness. It also reiterated the College of Policing's Code of Ethics review …
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Home Office
12
Conclusion
Sixth Report - Police Conduct and Compl…
Accepted
The police complaints system needs to be simpler and more transparent. We welcome IOPC statutory guidance which encourages forces to use accessible language and formats to explain the system, but it is not evident that all forces are yet doing this. All key stakeholders in the policing sphere (IOPC, NPCC, …
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The police complaints system needs to be simpler and more transparent. We welcome IOPC statutory guidance which encourages forces to use accessible language and formats to explain the system, but it is not evident that all forces are yet doing this. All key stakeholders in the policing sphere (IOPC, NPCC, forces, CoP and the CPS) should be required to publish plain language versions of the systems, available in different languages and accessible formats. These should be made available online and in print.
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Government response AI summary
The government noted existing requirements for publishing IOPC recommendations and force responses. It committed to considering, with the IOPC, how to better track progress on recommendations and highlighted that an amended Specified Information Order, which came into force on May 31, 2021, now requires PCCs …
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Home Office
16
Recommendation
Sixth Report - Police Conduct and Compl…
Accepted
There is a clear absence of urgency and a culture of non-co-operation from some police forces involved in investigations. Appropriate sanctions must follow for any officer served with disciplinary proceedings, whether serving or retired. We welcome the legislation that exists to ensure delays to investigations are minimised. Specific reforms were …
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There is a clear absence of urgency and a culture of non-co-operation from some police forces involved in investigations. Appropriate sanctions must follow for any officer served with disciplinary proceedings, whether serving or retired. We welcome the legislation that exists to ensure delays to investigations are minimised. Specific reforms were made to the discipline system under the implementation of the 2020 reforms including the possibility for former officers to face disciplinary proceedings if allegations come to light within 12 months of their leaving the force. In addition, the IOPC has new powers to determine that disciplinary processes may be initiated against officers who have been out of service for longer than 12 months.
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Government response AI summary
The government states it strengthened the complaints and discipline systems in February 2020, introducing integrity reforms, a statutory duty of cooperation, and new IOPC and legally qualified chair powers to address timeliness and sanctions for officers.
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Home Office
17
Recommendation
Sixth Report - Police Conduct and Compl…
Accepted
The available statutory and regulatory frameworks must be used by forces and the IOPC to obtain fair, transparent and appropriate sanctions against officers. (Paragraph 98) The IOPC complaints system
Government response AI summary
The government states it strengthened the complaints and discipline systems in February 2020 with integrity reforms, introducing new statutory duties and powers for the IOPC and misconduct panels to ensure fair and appropriate sanctions.
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Home Office
20
Recommendation
Sixth Report - Police Conduct and Compl…
Accepted
A culture needs to be created within police forces—established by and led from the top—that requires rapid, open and non-defensive response to complaints about conduct, both to deal with misconduct where it arises and to clear the names and reputations of officers who have not transgressed.
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A culture needs to be created within police forces—established by and led from the top—that requires rapid, open and non-defensive response to complaints about conduct, both to deal with misconduct where it arises and to clear the names and reputations of officers who have not transgressed.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the need for cultural change in policing and is addressing it through the Angiolini Inquiry, tasks given to the police inspectorate, and the College of Policing's Code of Ethics review, which will produce a Code of Practice for chief officers.
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Home Office
23
Conclusion
Sixth Report - Police Conduct and Compl…
Accepted
We welcome the IOPC’s work on thematic reviews, specifically its aim to identify systemic learning by taking on more independent investigations in these areas and to improve public confidence in policing and the wider system. Ultimately, the result of such thematic reviews should be manifest in increased public confidence in …
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We welcome the IOPC’s work on thematic reviews, specifically its aim to identify systemic learning by taking on more independent investigations in these areas and to improve public confidence in policing and the wider system. Ultimately, the result of such thematic reviews should be manifest in increased public confidence in how the police deal with these issues. This should also support forces to improve policing practice, in, for example, how stops and searches are conducted.
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Government response AI summary
The government states the IOPC is already making concerted efforts to uphold public confidence in the police complaints system through actions like thematic reviews, improved transparency, and stakeholder engagement, which are central to its current and upcoming strategies.
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Home Office
25
Recommendation
Sixth Report - Police Conduct and Compl…
Accepted
We urge the Home Office to highlight, on its super-complaints’ website, that the 16 designated bodies should collaborate with non-designated bodies as appropriate to make a complaint on matters raised by non-designated bodies. Clarity of information is essential to ensure that the process is accessible to all groups and interests.
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We urge the Home Office to highlight, on its super-complaints’ website, that the 16 designated bodies should collaborate with non-designated bodies as appropriate to make a complaint on matters raised by non-designated bodies. Clarity of information is essential to ensure that the process is accessible to all groups and interests.
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Government response AI summary
The government commits to updating the police super-complaints website on gov.uk to explicitly state that designated bodies should collaborate with non-designated organisations and make complaints based on matters raised by them.
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Home Office
26
Conclusion
Sixth Report - Police Conduct and Compl…
Accepted
Evidence to our inquiry suggests the IOPC could do better in defending its role in police complaint decisions which, though they may not always be amenable to forces or police associations, must be accepted and acted upon if public confidence in accountability in policing is to be improved.
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Evidence to our inquiry suggests the IOPC could do better in defending its role in police complaint decisions which, though they may not always be amenable to forces or police associations, must be accepted and acted upon if public confidence in accountability in policing is to be improved.
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the IOPC is already making concerted efforts to uphold confidence through transparency, improved investigation timeliness, and thematic reviews, and is continuing this focus with its current and new strategies.
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Home Office
27
Recommendation
Sixth Report - Police Conduct and Compl…
Accepted
The IOPC has a statutory duty to uphold confidence in the police complaints system; and we urge the IOPC to embrace this role and to proactively communicate and defend the decisions it makes. (Paragraph 142) 50 Police Conduct and Complaints
Government response AI summary
The government states that the IOPC is already making concerted efforts to uphold confidence in the police complaints system through greater transparency, stakeholder engagement, improved timeliness, and thematic reviews, with their new strategy focusing even more on public confidence.
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Home Office
31
Conclusion
Sixth Report - Police Conduct and Compl…
Accepted
The IOPC has made concerted efforts in its first three years to build public trust in the police complaints system by actively listening to policing bodies and communities about their concerns and by providing greater transparency in the publication of the outcome of its investigations.
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The IOPC has made concerted efforts in its first three years to build public trust in the police complaints system by actively listening to policing bodies and communities about their concerns and by providing greater transparency in the publication of the outcome of its investigations.
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the IOPC is already making concerted efforts to uphold confidence in the police complaints system, including the specific actions the Committee highlights.
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Home Office